The upcoming COP15 climate change meeting begins on December 7th in Copenhagen, Denmark. Numerous environmental and human rights organizations are mobilizing to bring attention to this historic meeting, which is set to possibly rewrite the Kyoto Protocol and determine how both developing and developed nations handle their greenhouse gas emissions.

At stake is the future health of the planet and the human beings that live on it. Set to attend are delegates from over 65 countries (the final list won't be released until after the conference; the Dutch government is expecting leaders to announce to their citizens if they are attending). President Obama is attending part of the conference, along with leaders members of the IPCC (international committee on climate change).

"The goals of the climate change convention are to stabilize the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous man-made climate changes."

Details of what's to be discussed are covered fully in this Good Magazine wrap-up, but it boils down to one major issue, atmospheric CO2 reduction, which is affected by several others. Throughout human history, CO2 levels hovered around 275 ppm, but we are already at around 390 ppm, and rising at around 2.5 ppm each year. According to the UN, if we keep moving forward at the current pace, we will reach 'irreversible' and 'catestrophic' levels by 2040.

Keeping global atmoshperic CO2 levels below 350 ppm is one goal that every country in the world will need to work together to achieve. This number is the level at which we must aim if, as NASA climatologist Jim Hansen puts it, “humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted.” Concurrent to that goal is keeping forests intact, reducing other emissions, and adapting to changes that are already taking place due to climate change. Financing and enforcement of laws that will ensure that countries who sign the treaty stick to their agreements are an important- and contentious part of negotiations. 

Cate Blanchett narrates i.speak.earth's video which explains the ramifications of the COP15 meeting.

Read here for more actions you can take surrounding COP15.